A charity performance under the Big Top in Welles Park pulled in big bucks for the Red Cross. View Full Caption

Midnight Circus

LINCOLN SQUARE — Midnight Circus worked its special brand of fundraising magic Thursday night in Welles Park, pulling in $18,000 in donations with a charity performance for Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts.

The show, which the circus added to its schedule in early October, sold out in a day, with 100 percent of ticket sales and net concessions pledged to the Red Cross of Chicago's Hurricane Maria relief fund.

"As the show drew to a close, we had raised $17,971 between the tickets, donations and concessions. The circus artists weren't satisfied with almost hitting $18,000. They pulled out their wallets and got us to $18,003," Julie Dickinson, director of development for the circus, said via email.

WGN-TV reporter and Puerto Rico native Ana Belaval served as guest ringmaster alongside Celena Roldan, CEO of the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Businesses and organizations across Chicago continue to raise money to assist the people of Puerto Rico. Click here for a roundup of upcoming events and ways to contribute.